A lonely nation: Has the notion of the ‘American way’ promoted isolation across history?

[Truthseeker]

A lonely nation: Has the notion of the 'American way' promoted isolation across history?

People are lonely the world over. But as far back as the early 19th century, when the word “loneliness” began to be used in its current context in American life, some were already asking the question: Do the contours of American society — that emphasis on individualism, that spreading out with impunity over a vast, sometimes outsized landscape — encourage isolation and alienation?

This is a little more complicated than that of course, but it seems to me that individualism, which originated in Western society, is more accented in America. This is to our detriment. We need to support one another, and to some extent be part of the established society. There needs to be a balance of some kind between individuals and society. Some parts of the world go too far in the other direction, I have the impression but really I have ignorance of how it is in those parts of the world since I've never lived there.

 

[Stevicus]

A lonely nation: Has the notion of the 'American way' promoted isolation across history?

People are lonely the world over. But as far back as the early 19th century, when the word “loneliness” began to be used in its current context in American life, some were already asking the question: Do the contours of American society — that emphasis on individualism, that spreading out with impunity over a vast, sometimes outsized landscape — encourage isolation and alienation?

This is a little more complicated than that of course, but it seems to me that individualism, which originated in Western society, is more accented in America. This is to our detriment. We need to support one another, and to some extent be part of the established society. There needs to be a balance of some kind between individuals and society. Some parts of the world go too far in the other direction, I have the impression but really I have ignorance of how it is in those parts of the world since I've never lived there.

I think there's individualism, which is mainly about individual freedom and individual human rights.

But then there's hyper-individualism where the concept is taken too far. There's always been a certain number who might have isolated themselves on purpose, such as the early mountain men and so forth. But most people relied on the support of a community. I don't think very many people could live off the land, on their own in the wilderness, so most people won't ever be truly isolated, because they wouldn't be able to survive.

Some people might be socially isolated, without any close family ties or real life acquaintances. They may not know who their neighbors are, and everyone they see is a stranger. I don't know if that was ever the "American Way" or even if it has anything to do with individualism, per se. Sometimes, I think we have a kind of dog-eat-dog, "every man for himself" kind of culture out there, which can come across as predatory and hostile. I don't even know if even that would be the "American Way," although even that's a bit of an abstract concept itself, subject to various interpretations.

 

[wellwisher]

America was a social experiment away from the monarchies. Monarchies were like one large family or tribe; shared DNA. However, monarchies were very lopsided and restrictive. Those at the top, structured things so they could enjoy the best of life. While, the vast majority of people were drones, who had little freedom and no upward mobility; serfs and slaves.

America; via the Constitution, did away with monarchy rule; smaller government and human rights. It became a melting pot for immigrant all over the world. Immigration broke the intimacy of pure cultures, but the Constitution allowed for more opportunity; rise of the middle class.

In the city, where I grew up, my grandparent's generation immigrated from all over Europe, with each culture clanning together, in their own area of the city. My parent's generation started to merge cultures. They became bilingual; English plus their ethnic language. The once pure cultures started to inter-marry, with neighborhoods becoming more a blend people from many cultures, pure and mixed. By my generation, the wide variety of youth backgrounds all wanted to be American, instead of sticking with the old ways; unified by the melting pot. The Love Generation overcame these isolation problems by finding a way to make a new larger family. After that it was down hill again.

Since that time, the Political Left has tried to teach Americans to leave the melting pot; diversity instead of unity. One is now an African American, Jewish American or Asian American, with America last and clan first; going backwards. MAGA was about unifying culture; golden generation. Students do not even have to learn to speak, English, but can stay separated via their native tongue. That separates neighbors.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I think there's individualism, which is mainly about individual freedom and individual human rights.

But then there's hyper-individualism where the concept is taken too far. There's always been a certain number who might have isolated themselves on purpose, such as the early mountain men and so forth. But most people relied on the support of a community. I don't think very many people could live off the land, on their own in the wilderness, so most people won't ever be truly isolated, because they wouldn't be able to survive.

Some people might be socially isolated, without any close family ties or real life acquaintances. They may not know who their neighbors are, and everyone they see is a stranger. I don't know if that was ever the "American Way" or even if it has anything to do with individualism, per se. Sometimes, I think we have a kind of dog-eat-dog, "every man for himself" kind of culture out there, which can come across as predatory and hostile. I don't even know if even that would be the "American Way," although even that's a bit of an abstract concept itself, subject to various interpretations.

I agree it's not loneliness, but individualism.

 

[Estro Felino]

Unfortunately, the answer is yes.
The notion of community, village is very present in Europe. Especially in Southern Europe.
Everyone knows anything about anyone.
But they also empathize with one another, and that is very beautiful.
Your happiness is mine, and your suffering is mine.

Big city life is something I find terrible in comparison.

 

[Heyo]

Since that time, the Political Left has tried to teach Americans to leave the melting pot; diversity instead of unity. One is now an African American, Jewish American or Asian American, with America last and clan first; going backwards. MAGA was about unifying culture; golden generation. Students do not even have to learn to speak, English, but can stay separated via their native tongue. That separates neighbors.

Interestingly, MAGA did in fact divide the US more than any other political movement. And the right is generally not very big on unity. Most of their "politics" today is based on oppressing and marginalizing the "other" (currently mostly LGBTQ people). The left was traditionally the movement of communities and associations. Unions, solidarity, social security. It's in their names, socialists and communists.
Individualism is a right-wing idea. And the current state of the States is reflected in the Overton window, which is far right.

 

[Twilight Hue]

Interestingly, MAGA did in fact divide the US more than any other political movement. And the right is generally not very big on unity. Most of their "politics" today is based on oppressing and marginalizing the "other" (currently mostly LGBTQ people). The left was traditionally the movement of communities and associations. Unions, solidarity, social security. It's in their names, socialists and communists.
Individualism is a right-wing idea. And the current state of the States is reflected in the Overton window, which is far right.

Some don't see division.

That might be the leftest view which you appear to sympathise with, but for others MAGA means unification and solidarity than any other political movement.

 

[wellwisher]

Interestingly, MAGA did in fact divide the US more than any other political movement. And the right is generally not very big on unity. Most of their "politics" today is based on oppressing and marginalizing the "other" (currently mostly LGBTQ people). The left was traditionally the movement of communities and associations. Unions, solidarity, social security. It's in their names, socialists and communists.
Individualism is a right-wing idea. And the current state of the States is reflected in the Overton window, which is far right.

What divided the country was not the MAGA movement, but the Russian Collusion Coup and fake news extrapolation, from that which started the division. If you were gullible to work under the premises of that collusion lie; for over two years I might add, then you could justify blaming everything wrong on MAGA. However, there was nothing radical about trying to recreate a time when America was unified as the defender of the free world; WWII era. Before Trump, the Left had previously divided people with the idea of diversity, not unity; Democrat Party segregation scam. If a child can learn his native tongue and not English his future options are limited to a pocket in a city or two. One common language allows him to go anywhere.

But since the lie of Trump, plotting with Putin, was swallowed hock line and sinker, that foundation premise made things appear upside down, with the true radical and divisive people continuing to lie in plain sight. Since nothing happened to the criminals who ran the coup and who even persecuted innocent people; create special affects, it was easy for the gullible to extrapolate that lie. Parents were considered domestic terrorists, by the Left, for not allowing their children to be mutilated, while criminals are now free without bail, running Democrats run cities. This all makes honest people feel alone; patients running the Lefty Asylum with the help of Big Brother.

Now House Investigations have proof that the Biden Family is among the worse exampled of corruption in US history; influence peddling for money. Thier proof has to do with banks records of questionable movement of money that all banks are required to monitor by law. It was designed for the drug traffic trade. It turns out that the Biden family had a dozen or so, LLC shell companies, that did nothing but a money shuffle ending up in th pockets of Biden family members. Biden was the one taking money from Russia; collusion, as well as China, Ukraine, Romania and any other country he was involved with as Senator and VP under Obama. All Biden and others did was project this corruption onto Trump, and the Left would eat it up with the help o fake news. When you have half the population pushing a lie, fake news cheer leading, and government resources; FBI and DOJ, adding to the fodder with CNN search and seizure exclusives, the Lefty lie spread, and now all people feel divided, either isolated in fear or unconscious guilt.They are still victimizing Trump, since they know if he was to win, the crooks will see justice.

The Durham investigation just ended and his report has been released. It does not specifically criminalize anyone, but rather shows a pattern of how top members of various intel organizations; FBI, CIA and Justice Departments, willingly ignored the truth and selectively politicizes lies. They had both data sets, since the beginning of the Collusion Coup, but they favored what would hurt Trump. Either we have the stupidest people in high places or the most corrupt. Recommendations are more about fixing this, but stop short of dealing with those, who benefitted by the corruption.

There were 51 former top level intel people, who singed off on the Hunter Biden Laptop being Russian Disinformation, just before the 2020 election. They all knew better; had all the information, but chose the lie for election interference. Durham has to deal with the existing corrupted justice department; the AG and the FBI are protecting Biden. Durham had to stop short of rubbing the corrupt bear the wrong way. But at the same time, not appearing too soft on crime, for the Republicans. He pointed out the patterns but stop short of naming names since this is easy to infer. This continue corruption and protecting it is dividing America, since the left can only lie more to protect their original lies, since the truth is not the friend of the lie.

 

[RestlessSoul]

The fetishisation, in the West, of personal freedom over all other virtues and values, has alienated the individual from his community. When my right to do what I want trumps any obligation I may have towards those I share my environment with, imbalance is inevitable.

 

[Viker]

I think there's individualism, which is mainly about individual freedom and individual human rights.

But then there's hyper-individualism where the concept is taken too far.

Exactly what I wanted to say. Too often the two are confused.

 

[Guitar's Cry]

. MAGA was about unifying culture; golden generation.
That might be the leftest view which you appear to sympathise with, but for others MAGA means unification and solidarity than any other political movement.

That might be the leftest view which you appear to sympathise with, but for others MAGA means unification and solidarity than any other political movement.

 

[Father Heathen]

Some don't see division.

That might be the leftest view which you appear to sympathise with, but for others MAGA means unification and solidarity than any other political movement.

How is an ideology that clearly favors rich, white, Christian males in any way inclusive?

 

[Twilight Hue]

How is an ideology that clearly favors rich, white, Christian males in any way inclusive?

It says make America great again.

How does that 'clearly' favor rich white Christian males?

 

[Father Heathen]

It says make America great again.

How does that 'clearly' favor rich white Christian males?

I could label a bottle of poison as a health tonic, but that wouldn't make it so.

How is a political platform that opposes science, bodily autonomy, women's rights, LGBT rights, civil rights, personal freedoms, economic equity, ecological accountability, secularism, etc. supposed to unify the country?

 

[Heyo]

I could label a bottle of poison as a health tonic, but that wouldn't make it so.

How is a political platform that opposes science, bodily autonomy, women's rights, LGBT rights, civil rights, personal freedoms, economic equity, ecological accountability, secularism, etc. supposed to unify the country?

As long as you don't complain about being marginalized when I rule, we are united. /s

 

[Heyo]

It says make America great again.

How does that 'clearly' favor rich white Christian males?

Make America great again. - As great as it was in the '50s? (The 1850s)
The GOP has turned from conservative to regressive. All they are wanting to do is turn the times back, back before there were civil rights. That is what they see as "great" and "united". Back to a time when only rich, white males had anything to say.
Gays - we don't talk about them and they don't talk about being gay. (Now law in Florida.) Great.
Women - don't have a right to bodily autonomy. (Now law in many red states.) Great.
Drag Queens - make them disappear. (Now law in ... you get the idea.)
Kids - should shut up and work in the mines. (That's when I realized that it was the 1850s they want to go back to.)

Unity for the right is tribalism. Unity in obeying authority, not unity in diversity as was once an idea of the US. The individual right to be like anybody else.

 

[Heyo]

The fetishisation, in the West, of personal freedom over all other virtues and values, has alienated the individual from his community. When my right to do what I want trumps any obligation I may have towards those I share my environment with, imbalance is inevitable.

I like personal freedom. I like it when people can be what they are without oppression. Tolerance is a great idea. Unfortunately some people have mistaken tolerance with indifference. It's the indifference that alienates people. But as some can not distinguish them, they are now against tolerance. I think the difference has to be explained better.

 

[Valjean]

I think there's individualism, which is mainly about individual freedom and individual human rights.

But then there's hyper-individualism where the concept is taken too far. There's always been a certain number who might have isolated themselves on purpose, such as the early mountain men and so forth. But most people relied on the support of a community. I don't think very many people could live off the land, on their own in the wilderness, so most people won't ever be truly isolated, because they wouldn't be able to survive.

Some people might be socially isolated, without any close family ties or real life acquaintances. They may not know who their neighbors are, and everyone they see is a stranger. I don't know if that was ever the "American Way" or even if it has anything to do with individualism, per se. Sometimes, I think we have a kind of dog-eat-dog, "every man for himself" kind of culture out there, which can come across as predatory and hostile. I don't even know if even that would be the "American Way," although even that's a bit of an abstract concept itself, subject to various interpretations.

I would qualify as "socially isolated," but I live in a society that depends on coöperation and mutual support. If my 'individual rights' interfere with the smooth functioning of the world I live in, there's a problem. The individual rights of all must be respected.

 

[Valjean]

Some don't see division.

That might be the leftest view which you appear to sympathise with, but for others MAGA means unification and solidarity than any other political movement.

And that's the problem. This tribalism is deeply ingrained in our psyches, and was functional 20,000 years ago, but today, in our large, multicultural societies, it's dysfunctional.
We're repeating 1930's Germany and Italy.

 

[Twilight Hue]

I could label a bottle of poison as a health tonic, but that wouldn't make it so.

How is a political platform that opposes science, bodily autonomy, women's rights, LGBT rights, civil rights, personal freedoms, economic equity, ecological accountability, secularism, etc. supposed to unify the country?

None of that is completely banned or illegal.